Every breakthrough starts with a question… and someone willing to back it.
On 8 September, we were fortunate to hear from Past District Governor (PDG) Barbara Wheatcroft from the Rotary Club of West Beach about the exciting future of Australian Rotary Health (ARH) as it prepares for 2027.
For more than 45 years, ARH has been answering one simple question:
“What can we do to help?”
And the answer has been to fund possibility.
Over those 45+ years, an incredible $56 million has been raised, supporting 741 research grants, fellowships and PhD scholarships, along with 874 scholarships in rural medicine, rural nursing and Indigenous health.
But behind every statistic is a person, a researcher with an idea, a student given an opportunity, or a breakthrough that may never have happened without someone choosing to say yes.
ARH’s current focus is particularly important: mental health in children aged 0–12, supporting research and evidence-based programs that can make a difference early in life.
As ARH looks towards 2027, the organisation has a refreshed brand, an expanded events offering, new digital kits and a new events portal - same heart, same commitment, but with a sharpened vision and purpose.
The much-loved Lift the Lid walks are continuing, with ARH now bringing these events in-house with an amazing 95 walks since 2020.
A big thank you to Barbara for sharing the story behind Australian Rotary Health and reminding us that when we support research and emerging researchers, we are giving brilliant minds the gift of time, and the opportunity to discover what is possible.
